Tigers can't finish off first-ever season series sweep of Boston

Detroit Tigersí Nick Castellanos scores on a single by teammate Eugenio Suarez during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox in Detroit, Sunday, June 8, 2014.
CARLOS OSORIO ó The Associated Press

His latest victim, Joba Chamberlain, gave up a three-run, ninth-inning home run to the Boston Red Sox DH, as the Tigers were two outs away from completing the first season series sweep of Boston ever.

The Red Sox won Sunday nightís series finale, 5-3.

While Phil Coke handled him once, and pitched 1 1/3 quality innings of relief, putting himself in line for his first win since 2012, the Tigers were out of lefties to face Ortiz in the ninth inning.

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With closer Joe Nathan likely unavailable after throwing 32 pitches Saturday night, Chamberlain had to try to get Ortiz out. Instead, he gave up a home run halfway up the seats in right field.

The Tigers have given up 46 ninth-inning runs this season.

TOP THIRD INNING >> Anibal Sanchez didnít allow a hit to the first eight Red Sox batters he faced, then gave up a single to Jackie Bradley Jr. with one out in the third, and proceeded to struggle a bit after. Brock Holt followed with a single, then Sanchez walked Xander Bogaerts to load the bases. Dustin Pedroiaís sacrifice fly to deep center put Boston ahead 1-0, but Sanchez struck out David Ortiz to end the threat.

BOTTOM THIRD INNING >> The Tigers had only stolen one base in June ó and just four since leaving Boston on May 18 ó until Austin Jackson singled to lead off the third, and put himself in scoring position with a swipe. Eugenio Suarez singled home Jackson to tie the game at 1-1, his second RBI in as many starts. Before he arrived, Tigers shortstops had driven in 12 runs in 212 plate appearances.

Making his first professional appearance in the outfield, Holt made a spectacular running catch at the warning track in left to keep the Tigers from adding on in the inning.

BOTTOM FOURTH INNING >> Despite John Lackey throwing just five pitches (after Anibal Sanchez needed 22 to escape a jam in the top of the frame), the Tigers scored a run on two hits. Miguel Cabrera led off the inning with a double to the right-field corner, and scored on a single by Victor Martinez to the same spot. It made it 2-1 Tigers at the time.

TOP SIXTH INNING >> Mike Napoli made his return from the disabled list Sunday, and hit Sanchezís 103rd pitch out to the opposite field, tying the game at 2-2. It was the first home run allowed by Sanchez this season ó and the first since giving one up to Napoli in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.

TOP SEVENTH INNING >> With Sanchez out after a season-high 112 pitches, the Tigers had to use three relievers to get through the seventh with the score still tied. Ian Krol gave up a one-out triple to Holt, then Evan Reed got a groundout to third before walking Dustin Pedroia to put runners on the corners. Phil Coke (who has held Ortiz to a 2-for-20 mark historically) got the Boston DH to fly out to center field on his third straight pitch of 96 mph, unleashing a fist-pump reminiscent of the 2012 postseason, when he briefly earned the de facto closerís role.

TOP EIGHTH INNING >> Coke struck out Jackie Bradley Jr. with runners on the corners in the eighth, pumping his fist for the second time on the night.